Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Egypt Fall 2026 program!
If you could use a structured process and feedback from Cairo's top entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Egypt Fall 2026 Founder Institute today.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the critical support network and structured process needed to build an enduring company. Since 2009, the program has helped over 9,000 Graduates raise over 2BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events in Cairo, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:
Egypt Events:
- Cairo Startup Idea Feedback: How to Validate Your Ideas & Networking Event: 6:00pm, Oct 04, 2026 (Africa/Cairo): https://FI.co/e/400528
Global or Regional Events:
The Cairo program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Gamal Sadek (CEO, The Fit Foundry), and Rafeh Saleh (Founder, ConsultingPad.com).
In addition, some of Cairo's top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors will be participating in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Cairo Founder Institute includes:
- Abdelrahman Ayman: VP, Manara
- Abdel Rahman Shorosh: Serial Angel Investor, Egypt
- Ahmed Morsy: Founder and CEO, Just to Learn
- Ahmed Alaa El Din: Managing Director
- Ahmed Hazem: Managing Director, Falak Startups
- Ahmed Alsharif: Founding Partner, Averroes Ventures
- Ahmed Mahmoud Abdeen: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ElGameya
- Ahmed Nassef: Founder & CEO, LeadsMart
- Ameer Sherif, Wuzzuf
- Amr Fawzi: CEO & Founder, GoodsMart
- Andrea Azzolari: Investor , Plug and Play
- Ayman Metwally: Founder & CEO, Stream Controls
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Christine Nady: IC Member, Included VC
- Dalia Rehab: Program Manager, Founder Institute
- Dan D'souza: Principle, Star Venture, European Bank for Reconstruction & Development
- Ebin Ephrem Elavathingal: Director/Tecknogog, MERSTRA Foundation / MITC
- Edgar Kussberg: AI Group Product Manager, Snyk
- Ehab Darwish: Founder, Business Development Director, iSkala
- Esraa Abouelnasr: Executive Director, Giza Systems Foundation
- George Fahmy: Founder & CEO, Stakpak
- Hani W. Naguib: Author | Speaker | Mentor, HNT innovation studio
- Hossam Shafick: Partner, Silicon Badia
- Ibrahim Shehata: Partner, Shehata
- Irina Baskova: Growth coach for B2B sales and go-to-market., independent consultant.
- Ivan Ivanka: Founder & CEO, Markster
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
- Katherine Kamel: VC, Foundation Ventures
- Keshni Morar: Managing Director, FI South Africa + Investable
- Lewa Abukhait: CEO, Iwan Ventures
- Louis Ravenscroft: Founder, Startopia
- Louisa De Beer, Blossom Accelerator
- Mai Samir, Leadsmart
- Manar Mansour: Head of GTM & Growth, Fawry
- Mervat Gabal: Co-Founder and CEO, La Maison Treize
- Mohamed Tohami: Founder & CEO, Passion Point
- Mohamed Al Ghannam: Principal, F6 Ventures
- Mohamed Alaa: CEO, Shezlong
- Mohamed Elsherif: Founder, ASaaSI
- Mohammed Badawy: Head of Investment, Falak Startups
- Mostafa Masry: CEO, Fincart
- Muhammad Abu Elgheit: Founder & CEO, TechieMatter
- Nadia KANOUN: CEO, Senior Adviser, Trainer & Coach, IHSCEN for Startups
- Nafez Dakkak: Managing Partner, Anara Capital
- Paul Turken: Professor, Marketing & Strategy of Business School Netherlands
- Raja Mawad: Founder, Thrv.health
- Reem Bannis: Corporate/ Arbitration lawyer, LandIn.ksa
- Rishi Sharma: West Coast Lead , Newlin VC
- Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
- Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
- Sara Tabana: Sr. Dir, Head of FinTech Innovation Strategy - Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, VISA
- Saumya Bhatnagar: CTO & Co-Founder, Involve.ai
- Sawsan Lubani, iRole
- Sherif Mohsen: Serial Entrepreneur , Lasheen Group
- Simon Turner: Founding Partner, Groundbreaking, Managing Director, FI Ghana
- Tarek Roushdy: Angel Investor, UI Investments
- Tarek Abdelrahman: CMO, TE Data
- Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
- Walid Hassouna: Founder and CEO, valU
- Yousef El Sammaa: Co founder & CEO, Daleela
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is designed for founders and teams all throughout the pre-seed stage, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies that are pre-funding. The Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in Cairo to build a great company in 2019.
Apply to the Egypt Fall 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
